Like so many of you that I know, I grew up splitting time between my Mom and my Dad’s side of the family. See, I was born not long after they graduated high school, at ages 19 & 20. And like many relationships at that age, it just wasn’t meant to last forever. But there I was, in their lives forever…. When this happens and the two parents still have an entire lifetime ahead of them, but no longer together. In this situation the best thing either parent can ever hope for is either: 1. the other parent stay single forever (lol) or 2. That who-ever the new person is that is going to become such a big influence in their kid’s life, that they are a truly good person and that they are going to love that child as their own.
My step-dad, Shawn Murray was / is (thankfully) one of the good ones ya’ll. He’s always loved me (and my brother & sisters) with his whole heart and never treated any of us as if we were someone else’s children. His guidance, love & care, and honesty… no matter how hard-headed us kids attempted to be … is something that, especially now at age 41 looking back, I am just so very thankful for. With the addition of our own child, that same love & guidance continues to be something so welcoming.
I can’t help but feel so very blessed and thankful. Between my Dad, my step-Dad, and my Father in law…. and all the potential outcomes to turn out just the way they have, my perfectly imperfect family is pretty darn incredible.
Happy birthday Dad-Shawn! We love you so much.
From age 9-13, I lived in California where my step dad was stationed (in the Navy), while my Dad lived in Florida. I’d travel back and forth during summer and Christmas spending large chunks of time with my dad. During these years there were times when Dad-Shawn, as I call him, would be away at sea protecting our country. Being used to seeing my dad in pockets of time during those years, I don’t think it ever registered that Dad-Shawn was away as long as it felt to him. Weird how the mind works. My memories are of him nearly always being home. Once he retired and we all moved to Florida, it was like our family was truly complete. I had everyone as close together as I could and could spend time with all of them.
